The last two months had streamed by in a blur, only yesterday she had put in her picks for jobs, extremely last minute. Geema had explained to her friends among the council, who helped the leaders make decisions, and Amelia had been given extra time. As one of the top students for her group they understood she wasn't slacking.
Even with the extra time and speaking with the manager of each job, she still didn't feel strongly about any of them. In the end she picked two that seemed like they'd be fun at least for a while. She choose library and outer ship maintenance. Maintenance for the outside of the ship seemed interesting. She'd never been off the ship; except for her first eight months of life on earth that she didn't remember, she'd only ever been on this station.
The maintenance crew was responsible for checking around the entire station each day and repairing anything in need. Apparently it was an easy job and seldom was there any big repairs. According to the current manager, in the last five year there had been only one repair outside of regular maintenance and that was just replacing a sensor wire, knocked loose as they passed a meteor storm.
Geema had raised an eyebrow when Amelia had finally told her her job picks the night before. She knew why Amelia had picked the library but maintenance was a mystery.
Amelia smiled at her grandmother, acknowledging that it was out of character. She'd never shown much interest in maintenance inside or out of the station.
"I like the manager in maintenance." She told her honestly, "Other than seeing the outside of the station, it really came down to who I'd be working with. Mr. Wadnut was hilarious, I haven't laughed as hard as I did, in the half hour I spent with him, in months. He was comfortable to talk with more than the others. Who were very nice and knowledgeable but not entertaining the way he was."
Geema was nodding in understanding, "If you can't find the right job, you can at least have fun at whatever job you end up in."
In her room the night before her birthday and the ceremony that would accept her as an adult within the community, Amelia paced around her bed, restless. It was getting late, almost 1030pm, when she was usually in bed by 10. Her mind was running crazy, excited and nervous for the ceremony as well as starting her jobs. But there was something more too. That she couldn't name, restless for something that she knew wouldn't be there tomorrow.
What is it? Why am I feeling so weird, when I am so close to the chance to be a part of something. I want to belong, so why does it feel like I won't find that tomorrow or even here on this station.
Her pacing paused, feeling her thoughts had finally touched on her true feelings.
She wanted off the station? Something more than her life has been for the last nineteen years?
Amelia couldn't complain about her life so far, she liked the station and most of the people on it. Except for the last few months she hadn't felt alone.
So why am I not happier about tomorrow and my future?
Her pacing had resumed, slow and meandering, focused on her thoughts, she hadn't heard her door open. Her next turn brought her to face it, now filled with her grandmother instead of the door. Starting, her step faltered a moment as her brain switched focus.
"Amelia," she said her voice soft with understanding, her Geema wrapped her in a hug,"tell me all about it, darling, you'll feel better."
Amelia folded into her arms, overwhelmed all of a sudden, comforted by the familiar warmth and smell, peppermint and garden dirt.
Pouring out her thoughts and confusion, Amelia felt immensely better, just having her grandmother know seemed to help.
"Why do I feel this way?" Amelia finally asked, lifting her head off Geema's shoulder, calm now.
"Oh, Darling, isn't it obvious?" At Amelia's confused look, she went on,"You are an earth baby. One of the last born on earth before we abandoned it. You grew up in space but I made sure to tell you everything I know about earth. Don't you remember falling asleep to my stories? Everyone of those stories was about earth, or your parents, all true to my knowledge." Geema paused, cleared her throat now thick with emotion.
"Tell me about them," Amelia asked, even knowing she had heard it before.
Her grandmother obliged,"Your mother, my only daughter, married your father very young. Keera was only 18 and Abel was 19. They met at one of the few remaining shelters not yet destroyed. Abel was alone, he had heard about the underground community and wanted to help. I always said live at first sight was real and your parents proved it. Across a crowded cafeteria full of bunkbeds, their eyes met. Keera told me later it had felt like time had frozen around them and her heart had raced." They both sighed, and then smiled at each other.
Amelia settled back onto her pillow, keeping Geema's hand in hers, "Keep going, please?"
"Of course, darling," she said, head tilted as if finding her place in the memory, "After that they were inseparable, which I didn't mind. Abel was very helpful and it was wonderful to see Keera so happy. It was only a few weeks before he asked me for her hand. There was a minister a few bunks over who was glad to help and they it was done. Husband and wife. You can't imagine two happier people, you could almost forget the apocalypse outside," chuckling a little, she squeezed Amelia's hand. "A couple momths later you made yourself known. Everyone in the shelter rejoiced. A new baby in a world losing hope, it was wonderful."
Amelia sat up, immersed in the story, "Nine months later, I came out, during a sandstorm, right?"
"Yes, a very bad storm that lasted almost a two weeks. I delivered you myself, a bright red, tiny thing. You popped out, completely silent. You didn't cry, just looked at me with those big green eyes."
Amelia smiled, then grew somber, "And that's when mom got sick."
Scooting to lean against the pillow beside her, Geema said, "Yes, your mother got sick but it wasn't you. The stress labor put on her, her body couldn't cope, and she insisted on breastfeeding you as mych as she could. She only lasted nineteen days after your birth. And she loved you every minute."
"And dad? He was a hero." Amelia's voice cracked on the last word.
"Yes, he was. When the underground community started actively collecting up survivors, your father left you with me and helped the first groups from the shelter to the facility. It must have been at least twenty groups, hundreds of people, that he helped survive the journey. People we see every day here on the station." Geema's voice was proud, proud of her son in law.
"But then he got hurt, trying to save those people."
Geema, understanding how her granddaughter was feeling, said quietly, "Yes. He was transporting a group when that earthquake surprised them. The building they took refuge in was only a couple miles from the facility but unstable. Half of that group died when the roof collapsed. The reason..."
Geema paused, brought Amelia's chin around to look in her eyes, make sure she understood.
"The only reason, half survived was because of your father. Instead of saving himself, he cleared rumble and debris so those trapped could get out. And yes, because of all this he got hurt. The aftershock sent a piece of wood through his chest." Tears were in both their eyes, both overwhelmed.
"But..." Geema's voice strengthened, "But he lived long enough to see you. All he could say in his last moments was your name, over and over."
Tears were raining down Amelia's face, "And you promised him you'd always take care of me!" She wrapped her hands around the only family she'd ever known, squeezing tight.
Geema hugged her back, her chest full of love for her granddaughter.
"Can you see now, darling? Why you feel out of place here?"
Amelia shook her head, emotionally drained.
"You are meant for more."
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